Everwood Fan Fiction: A Thousand Wishes

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters.

Author's Note: Read & Review. I'm still living off a 10-hr internet free service, if I don't update within a week, (which I will try to update at least once a week) it means I have used up my internet service. And I will update the first day of the following month.

Chapter One: Ephram

---July 25, 2004---

They were picking him at the airport, returning from New York City. The city whom he's been in for the past six weeks. Having a wonderful and yet painful time, reliving everything he had trying to get out of his mind for past two years.

He tried to keep his mind occupied; making friends and focusing his art: piano. That was the reason he was going to the Julliard Summer Program. They told him he wasn't good enough. But what made him irritated was that, they said it wasn't his music that wasn't good. It was everything else. His posture; a habit of slouching when playing. His fingers not curled to achieve perfection. After all this, the school saw talent and gave him a chance. Of course, he took it. Music was his life. The only thing that made him happy at the saddest times. The one there thing which connected to a person he lost; his mother.

Though there was one other, but that's gone too.

---

Now he's waiting in line for them to stamp him back to Denver, Colorado. (The government always wanted to keep track of their "people".) He passed gates and waited at the meeting spot. He looked around and felt something missing. There wasn't nearly have the people here in the airport than in New York. He laughed at the thought. In a strange way he couldn't believe he missed it. Everything was loud and everyone was pushing. And it was only few a weeks that he's been there. It grew on me he admitted, again.

Moments later from behind he heard an recognizable voice; Delia's. "Ephram!" By the tone of her voice, he knew she was excited. "You're back! I couldn't believe I missed you when you were gone, but I was."

Andy jumped in. "It's true," he said smiling.

"I missed you, too. I got you a present." He pulled out a book from his large black bag.

She screamed. "You got me a baseball hat!"

"Do you like it?" She nodded, while putting on her new hat. She wasn't wearing one that day. Ephram pulled out another gift from his bag and gave it to Andy. "This is for you. I hope you enjoy it, Dad."

Andy looked at the book, it read Seven Steps to Become the Perfect Dad. Looking up, he said. "Aw, you shouldn't have."

---

The sun had begun to set when they arrived. He stood in front of his house. It took awhile to realize he wasn't going to up a elevator to his Nonny and Grandpa's apartment. He enjoyed living there, but hearing his two grandparents telling him to stay in New York was more than enough to come back here. Even though it isn't exciting, it's silent, even with Andy; he's only one person.

Immediately he went to his room. In some sense he missed it. Messy, filled with comic books, both American and Japanese Anime comics; an endless collection. His clothes on the floor from weeks ago still laid on the floor. "I thought it would be nice if I kept your room like this. Keep it feeling like home." Andy walked in the room, looking at the ground. "I love this part of the room, where there's a row of your sleeping clothes leading up to your bed. Very smart."

"Yeah, thanks."

"You settle in and I'm going to get started on dinner."

"Dad?"

"When I said get started on dinner I meant order take-out."

"That's my dad." And Andy left. Ephram held out his cell phone, whether to decide if he will call Bright and tell him he came back. I'll call him tomorrow he decided. He looked around his room. I need to get Nonny over here, pronto. Get this mess cleaned up.

Dinner as before was not entertaining. It was definitely different down here he thought glumly. Every night was like a party. Nonny always cooking something festive in her kitchen. Grandpa telling him medical stories of his past. It wasn't he called fun, but he never really had the time to enjoy before. Now he had the chance. Sometimes Ephram even found the stories interesting, it even fascinated himself when he realized this.

When he wasn't at with him he went out with the friends he made. It was weird he made friends so fast here than in New York. Wasn't the music or just the city. At times it didn't matter. Talking to people other than your old grandparents was just fine.

Ephram had few glances at his old friends, but never took initiate to confront him he came for summer school. It would just make it too hard to leave New York City again.

...Arg! I'm thinking about New York ...again And he would shake his head of thoughts. There was nothing wrong about New York. He just wasn't ready to face it, but when he decided to go to Julliard, it was only because of his Art. Nothing more.

---

It's been a month later, and Ephram's home alone with Delia while Andy is at work. "Delia! I'm getting breakfast! What do you want."

"I don't care!" Her voice came from upstairs, obviously too busy to come downstairs.

"Fine, then you eat what I am getting." And he left for his car. Outside in the cool wind, yet blazing with the warm sun, he looked down at his car. I need to get a job... Took one more look and got in the car. A few blocks, and he arrived to Mama Joy's. It was still early, Mama Joy's was still not crowded as usually, like he remembered.

He waited outside for the food.

It was still early, everyone was still doing their morning errands. He was still thinking heavily in thought, so he never noticed the person who walked passed. Though, the other did. It was a woman, yet not old to be called that, but old enough not to be called a girl either. She had the perfect age. "Ephram?"

He turned to the voice and found..." Madison! Wh-Why are you here. I mean it's not like you can't be here, it is a free world. Of course you can be here, I wasn't implying you can't be here, like you don't have anything to do. Ah--I mean you do have things to do, if you didn't you would be here..."

She smiled. "I get it. I was doing errands. What are you doing here?"

"Just feeding the stomach... and Delia's."

"You were always a good brother, even when if you don't admit it."

A small laugh, "Thanks. Uh-- I was bringing home food, but I could stay if you'll eat with me."

"I would...," she searched for the right words, "like to..."

"What's the problem, quick bite. I'll pay."

"But there's something I have to do," glances at watch, "and if I don't go now I'll be late. Bye Ephram, maybe next time, okay?"

And she began walking away before he said, "Tonight," She turned. "How about tonight, if you're not doing anything." He patiently waited, yet shaking nervously.

"...Okay. Tonight. Eight o'clock and don't be late."

After she left he whispered under his breath, "She said okay..." What will I wear?